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Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program

Founded in 2002 by Plácido Domingo, the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is a leading resident-training program for artists on the verge of international careers. The program offers exceptionally promising young singers, coach/accompanists, conductors, and stage directors a course of intensive training, study, career guidance and most importantly, performance opportunities in Washington, DC and beyond. As a cornerstone of WNO's commitment to the future of opera, wno, the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is dedicated to cultivating successful careers for its Young Artists and sharing their talents with audiences around the world.

Who are the Young Artists?

Young Artists are professional artists of the highest caliber who train in residence with WNO for two years. The program is unique in developing the talents of singers, as well as the coach/accompanists, conductors and stage directors who are so vital to singers' success on stage.

Each season, exceptionally promising professionals are selected from a pool of hundreds of applicants through a competitive audition process. Reflecting the international nature of the art form, current and past participants hail from the United States, China, Korea, Russia, Belgium, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Colombia, Georgia, the Dominican Republic and Australia. Learn about current participants.

Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers that include appearances at the world's leading opera houses. Former Young Artists have been seen on stage at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Santa Fe opera, wno, the National Symphony Orchestra, Weill Recital Hall, Los Angeles Opera, Canterbury Opera in New Zealand, Staatsoper Berlin, Teatro Real in Madrid, and Opéra de Monte-Carlo, among others.